Part of the image of Europe gets built around the old things, including the old stone homes from the days before 2x4 (lumber, wood-frame) construction. This home is at Mont Saint Michel, a rock on the Normandy coast that has had an abbey at the top of it for over 1000 years and a village built in stone under it for almost as long. As a side, Mt St Michel is one of my favourite places to visit in France.